MP response

[Femaledisrespectful]

Well at least I know one other constituent has written to him too (probably someone from here ). Other than that it's all 'oh the poor transgender people!'...at least I know I won't be voting for him now...next step? Counter response or wait for the info he's sending me.

Who is the MP? I had a very similar response

Sorry you may not be comfortable saying.

I am writing a factual letter back to my MP pointing out the problems and raising recent events with Karen White etc.
I don't think I will change their stance but I don't want any MP to be able to claim ignorance should self ID become law.

Mine hasn't bothered. Nor did his office manager, I emailed them separately! It has been a few weeks now... I suspect he is desperately looking for another restaurant table, preferring to fall off it and break another ankle rather than actually have an opinion!

Just glad I have never given him my vote. Though I have been forced to meet him and play nice - community funding was required! He botched that too!

Yes, I think I'll keep his name out of it. I went in quite softly softly. I work in safeguarding so now I'll go for the jugular. At least I got a response I guess.

I see that as very positive actually. It reads like he has given you the 'party line' (because whatever party it is, they all have the same one....) but actually, has already engaged with this and understands concerns. You might find if you went to see him rather than writing he would be far more open with you.

I think he's taking a very simplistic view of the relationship between the GRA and the EA and it's not at all clear that services for natal women will be protected, as it appears that trans women with a GRC will be women for the purposes of the EA and there will be reduced gatekeepering into getting GRCs. Here is the FPFW briefing womansplaceuk.org/julian-norman-in-house-of-lords/ you could send.

This area of law does seem unclear and others contest this interpretation but I think unless MPs are completely clear it is possible to provide women only services as he contends they shouldn't change anything.

You ca also point out that services are already too scared to discriminate against trans people whilst they are not clear of the law, e.g. GG or YHA or Caledonian Sleeper etc.

I got a similar response to an email I sent to my MP. I replied, pointing out that although I was happy for transgender people to have protection in law I felt that this should not be at the expense of other vulnerable groups such, as women. Women are also still massively discriminated against. I used the case of Rachel McKinnon and asked how it could possibly be fair for a person with all the physical advantages of having grown and matured as a male to compete against women. I also used the Karan White case as an example of poor safeguarding.
I got this in response:
I appreciate you taking the time to write to me to pass on your continued concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act.

I was sorry that I was unable to allay all your concerns.

I have now written to the Minister for Women and Equalities, The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, and have asked her to closely consider the points you raise. I will pass onto you the response I receive.

I hope this is helpful, and to be able to update you further in due course as to the reply I receive.

Thank you once more for taking the time to write. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you feel that I can be of further assistance to you at the current time.

I don't think its a complete cop out, she has at least past it up the chain. I hope I get a reply from the Right Hon Penny Mordaunt.

Would point out that all the protected characteristics and exceptions in the equalities act are meaningless unless those characteristics can be objectively defined.

If people with a protected characteristic don't share any common traits, how can the law that protects them be justified?

As above, I’d be asking him whether he is aware that many organisations are being advised NOW that it is illegal to provide single sexual services.

Thanks everyone. I guess I was hoping for a direct response about my daughter's right not to see a penis in a changing room. He has sidestepped every question I asked him (what did I expect from a politician). It clearly shows his lack of understanding about the dismantling of safeguards and the consequences for the EA.

I like how you've phrased that @merrymouse can I steal it please? I agree @EverardDigby, I'll be citing some examples for him (he has young daughters so hoping I can use this to draw his attention).

@Allstarspookster it's great that we're getting them writing at least. I must admit that I'm pleased that mine has written too, the more people who get their MPs raising this surely has to help.

I think my expectations are too high. I want an MP that says 'I stand for women' and one that recognises this doesn't mean they are against trans rights.

Labour by any chance? Very similar to the response I got from my MP last week.

It was quite a weird response in my case. I asked if he was planning on attending the women's place event in parliament which he didn't answer, but he did answer a whole host of questions I didn't ask.

Thank you for contacting me recently about gender identity.

I am fully committed to equality for all and it is my firm belief that no-one should be discriminated against because of their gender identity.

The UK has made extraordinary progress in improving the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in recent years. However, there are still gaps in trans people's legal rights and protections and I believe more needs to be done to ensure people feel that the UK is a country in which identity is respected and supported.

I believe that both the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and Equality Act 2010 should be reformed to ensure they protect trans people. In July this year, the Government published an LGBT action plan which includes a commitment to consider how best to make the gender recognition process less bureaucratic and intrusive. I welcome this plan and believe it will go a long way to creating a more just and equal society.

In July 2017, the Government committed to consulting on reforming the Gender Recognition Act and finally launched its consultation in July 2018. I understand the concerns you have raised about the proposed changes and the impact they could have on women-only spaces.

Under the Equality Act 2010, anyone who identifies as a particular gender - whether that is their legal status or not - can already use separate-sex facilities, such as changing rooms or toilets, unless service providers can demonstrate a justifiable reason for treating people differently.

The Government has stated that there will be no change to the provision of women-only spaces and services as a result of this consultation. For example, it has noted that a female only domestic violence refuge may provide a separate service to a trans woman if it can be shown there is a detriment to other service users from including the trans woman as part of the regular service.

The Government has also said that it recognises the wide range of views on reforming the Gender Recognition Act and has emphasised that it has encouraged women's refuges, women's rights charities and trans rights charities to respond to the consultation. This consultation recently closed and I hope that all views will be carefully considered.

Thank you once again for contacting me and for sharing your views. I can assure you that I will continue to bear in mind the points you raise.

FFS @amserdeffro you win! I feel better about my response now. Mine's conservative. My DF has just text me the phone number for my MPs PA. I'm going to arrange a face to face. With facts to hand. I'm wondering what resources would be best to leave with him? I'm good at speaking but only if I'm 100% sure on what I'm saying so I'll have a good practice beforehand.

I haven't heard back from mine yet but I quoted bits of the ehrc guidence on the ea which says that a GRC holder has to be included in services, activities etc for their legal sex, whereas it is possible to exclude even a post op tw if there was good reason if they don't have a GRC. If you are going to see him some extracts from the guidence with yellow highlighter might be good.

It's interesting yours in conservative. Mine too. Their replies in these threads have been more hopeful than labour ones imo.

Femaledisrespectful
I wrote to mine and got the usual bullsht response but it was a different story when i went to see him and he was actually very supportive. I think fairplay for women factsheets are good to leave wirh mps. Yes do practice! I took a list of bullet points of things I wanted to bring up and found that helped too.Good luck. Its great to know so many of us are doing this. Surely they cant ignore us.

It’s frustrating that so many of them send such “pat on the head” “it’ll all be okay” replies. The women on this board are so much better educated on these issues than any of them.

My MP wrote back directly to me on the two occasions I wrote, firstly about the whole stupid situation, and secondly to complain that the consultation was flawed and biased. He will not support the GRA, and firmly believes in biology.
You guessed it, conservative.

I am getting really worried about the fascism of the left.... echoes of Orwell. War is Peace... Men are Women

Am I really going to vote for conservatives for the first time in my life?

Under the Equality Act 2010, anyone who identifies as a particular gender - whether that is their legal status or not

They need to be pushed on what they mean by this. What does "identify as a particular gender" actually mean? And how can we know whether a "person who identifies as a particular gender" is genuine, or a sexual predator? What is the objective measure that we can use to identify one from the other?

@OldCrone yes, I agree- I need to cross this bridge with him.

I'll get some of the fpfw leaflets, great shout, thank you.

I fear we may be heading towards voting conservative if the conversation follows the same fashion as others. Labour have fucked themselves over this.

PS shall I wear my Posie T-shirt? Or too much?

Labour have fucked themselves over many things to be fair!

I have asked my labour mp how women and girls are going to be safeguarded. Have also twice asked him for related policy’s but like a true politician he hasn’t actually answered the question. He has instead answered my question with his own question. I have told him this issue is a deal breaker for a life long labour supporter.

Yes I’d never considered voting conservative before but this issue has forced me give labour the push

amser I strongly suspect that's a cut and paste job - a lot of it sounds very familiar from other FWRers. I see that they've updated about revising the EA since Corbyn's announcement at the Pink News awards.

@EverardDigby fair point!

@Labradoodliedoodoo I guess they wouldn't be politicians if they actually answered the bloody question!

Urgh. I'm a disabled lone parent. I am not a natural conservative voter understatement. Well, let's see how the conversation goes before I start my hand wringing.

@concretesieve def a cut and paste. He thanks me for sharing my views when I didn't express any.